‘Mean’ burglar Anthony Marchese broke into a home to steal property worth hundreds of pounds just days before Christmas.

The 32-year-old took a £50 remote control car which had been bought as a present for a child after sneaking into the Burslem house.

Other items taken included a laptop, computer notebook and two watches. Together they were worth £800.

Now the defendant, of no fixed address, has been jailed for 30 months after pleading guilty to burglary.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Marchese smashed a window of the house in Broadhurst Street before climbing inside on December 10.

Prosecutor Douglas Lloyd said: "The homeowner left his address to go to work. It is an end terrace property with an alleyway going to the back.

"The house was left secure but when he returned home at 5.20pm he noticed that items had been moved and a drawer was left open.

"He discovered a number of items were missing including a laptop worth £300, a computer notebook worth £250, a watch worth £120 and another worth £170, as well as his daughter’s Christmas present – a remote control car that was still boxed, worth just under £50.

"A kitchen window had been smashed to gain entry and somebody had climbed through it. The whole house was searched but not ransacked.

"Police found various blood statins around the property which matched that of the defendant. The owner has been left distraught."